Button fastener



Nov. 27, 1928,

BUTTON FASTBNBR 7 Filed Feb. 27' 1928 INV OR.

Char) wh n A RNEY Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

UNITED STATES CHARLES H. MILLER, or nn'mol r, MICHIGAN;

BUTTON FASTENER.

Application filed February 27;. 1928. Serial No. 25?;178.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a buttonfastener adapted for fastening a button onto fabric or for supportingmaterial upon which it is-desired to secure a button.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device of thisclass which will be simple and durable in structure, economical ofmanufacture, and highly eflicient in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a fastener of thisclass which may be easily and quickly mounted upon a button and removedtherefrom.

Another object is the provision of a penetrating fastening memberadapted to pass through the fabric upon which mounted and actuated byresilient means for retaining the fastening member in operativeposition.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a securing mechanismin a device of this class adaptable for mounting on buttons of Varioussizes.

Another object is the provision of a guide for the pin to guide the samein its movements from operative to inoperative position and vice versa.

Another object is the provision of a securing means for locking the pinin operative position.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of partshereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by a reference to the accompanyingdrawings which-form a part of this specification and in which Fig. 1 isa rear elevational view of One form of the invention with parts brokenaway and parts shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of .the form shown in Fig. 1 with thepin moved to inoperative position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on line 44 of Fig. 1.

5 is a rear elevational view of a modified form of the invention withparts shown in section.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 5. 7

Fig. 7 is a central vertical view of a button with part of a'modifiedform'of the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 8 isa fragmentary view of a fabric showing a securing memberattached'the'reto.

Fig. 9 is a rear elevational view of afurther modified form of theinvention with a part broken away and a part shown in section.

Fig. 10 is a rear elevational view of a further modified form of theinvention.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line 1111 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a side'elevational View of the locking mechanism applied to asafety pin.-

In the preferred form I have provided a frame having a pair'of parallelextending tubular members 17 and 18 connected at their 7 upper ends bythe crossbar 19. Projecting inwardly from the upper end of the member.18 is an arm 20, and projecting inwardly, in alignment therewith. fromthe upper end of the member 17 is an arm 21, each of these arms beingprovided on the inner ends with a notch 22. Themembers 17 and 18'areconnected at their lower ends by the band 23 which is doubled thereoverand bulged outwardly at the center to provide the cylindrical passage 24for the reception of'the point- I ed end of the pin 25, which isprojectingthrough an opening form-ed in the bar 19 and .slibabletherein, this pin being'provided with a head .26 having a boss portion27 for snapping into engagement with the notches 22. Fixedly mountedon'the pin 25,- adjacent the lower end thereofis a guide bar 28. theends of which, through engagement with the members 17 and 18, serve toguide the pin 25 in its slidahle movements. Engaging at one end-the bar19 and at the opposite end the guide member 28 and embracing the pin 25is a coil spring 29. As shown in Fig; 1, when this spring is in normalpositionQthe pin 25 engages in the passage 24', and when the pin israised out of engagement with the passage, as shown in Fig. 2, thespring 29-.is compressed. Slidably mounted in each of the tubularmembers 17 and 18 are securing means, a description of one side of theframe serving as a description for both.

Projected into the tubular member 18 is a rod 30' which is formedcorrugatedthrough:

out its length and provided at its outer end with a clamping head 31. Asimilar rod 32 ton 35 upon which the fastening mechanism 1 is adaptedfor engaging.

In use the fabric- 36 is folded'into position,

' as shown in Fig. 3, and positioned in the path of the pin 25, so thatwhen the pin is released the spring 29 will serve to assist in forcingthe pin 25 through the fabric, thus securing the pin which is held inthe frame on the fabric desired. IVhen the head 27 is forced downwardlysufficient resiliency in the frame formed from the tubular members 17and 18, the cross bar 19 and the inwardly'projecting arms 20 and 21 isprovided to effect the, necessary snap arrangement. I

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modified form of the invention in which thebutton is provided with a central opening 37, engaging in which is aneck 38 projecting outwardly from a plate 39, this neck 38 beinginteriorly threaded for the reception of the screw 54 which is threadedtherein and provided with a head 55, thus mounting the button 35 uponthe plate 39. Projecting outwardly from the plate 39, adjacent the upperend, is a. plate 40, projecting upwardly from which, in spaced relation,are

plates 41 and 12, from the upper end of which 1 project, inwardly, arms43 and 4 1,eaeh of these arms being provided with the notch alreadydescribed. The pin 25 is provided as described for the preferred formand formed with the head 26 having the boss portion 27 for engaging inthe notches 22 of the arms 13.

and 4:4. Secured to the pin 25 intermediate its ends, is the guide bar46, projecting upwardly from which are the pins 47 and 18 extendingthrough openings formed in the rearwardlyextending plate 10, springs 19and 50 being positioned in embracing relation on these pins for normallyretaining the pins moved downwardly into operative position. Extendingrearwardly from the plate 39 adjacent the upper edge thereof, is a boss51 having a passage 52 formed therein for the reception of the lower endof the pin 25, this pin being doubled upon itself to provide theabutment portion 53. The doubled over portion 53 may also serve forengaging a metallic eyelet which is present on some types of placed intheipath'of the pin and the pin buttons particularly those used on auniform.

The operation of this form of the invention is as already described, thefabric being forced downwardly to engage in the passage In Fig. 7 I haveshown a slightly modified form of means for attaching the frame to thebutton, this frame being as already described in Fig. l and Fig. 2.Extending in the tubular member 56 is a rod 57 which is projectedthrough an opening 58 formed in the button 35 and provided with anangularly turned portion 59 which embeds in a locking member 60, thismethod'being preferablymolded in form. A similar rod 61 is positioned inthe tubular member 56.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a loop or eyelet 63 i projecting outwardl-yfrom aplate 62 which is permanently fastened on the fabric 36, this form beingused where the fabric is of such a nature that it cannot well be foldedinto the position shown in Fig. 3;

In Fig. 9 Iihave shown a further modified form of-the invention in whichthe button 35 is provided with a recess 64 in which is positioneda frame65 on which is mounted 'ing clip 73 which is normally held in positionto engage the upper surface of the head 72 and prevent its upwardmovement'by the spring 74 which is positioned in the passage 75 formedin the button 35. A stud 73 depends from the, clip 73 and engages in thesocket 7 3 or 75 to lock this clip in operative or inoperative position.7

The operation of this invention'is substantiallyv as already described,the fabric being projected into the recess 6 1 in the path of the pin66.I i I i v In Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 I have illustrated a rearward extensionor abutment portion 7 6 formed integral with the button 78 and in whichthere is formed a recess 77 for the reception of the locking member. Inthis form, two pins 83 and 84 are used, each being adapted forcooperating with the locking arms 85 in the manner already described,and each moved to'engagement in a socket 86 by means of the coilspring'87 which engages the plate 88 fixedly mounted on the pins 83 and8 1.

The operation of the device is asv already described for the preferredform this particular type providing two sets of co-operz'tting pins forfastening purposes.

- In Fig. 12 I have shown the invention applied to a safety pin inwhicha plate 98 is provided with a socket bearing portion 99 providedwith the socket 101 in which engages the pin 102. Fixedly mounted on thepin 102 is the plate 103 engaging one end of lie the coil spring1Q4,.the other end of which engages the plate 105- PPQ i tely faced arms106 and 107 are adapted for snap engagement withthe boss portion l09onthe head 1Q8. In this way the invention is utilized for the usualpurpose to which a safety pin is put.

With the invention constructed and ar ranged as described it is believedevident that various modifications and changes in the invention may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is alsobelieved evident that a durable structure is evident from thedescription and that the device may be easily and quickly applied topins of various classes, and serve to perform the various functions setout.

It is believed apparent that the fastening members illustrated mayconsist either of one or any desired number and that they may project indifferent directions, the structure being possible whereby four of thesepins may be used for fastening means, each extending from the fourpoints of the compass. In such a mechanism, of course, an offsettingwould be required.

lVhile I have illustrated and described the preferred form of myinvention, I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details ofstructure shown, but desire to avail myself of such variations andmodifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1.. A button fastener of the class described, adapted for use with abutton, comprising: a frame; means for mounting said frame on saidbutton; a pin longitudinally movable on said frame; a socket-bearingportion for the reception of the end of said pin; and resilient meansfor normally'retaining said pin in engagement in said socket.

2. A device of the class described adapted for use with a button,comprising: a longitudinally movable pin; a socket-bearing portion forthe reception of the end of said pin; means for locking said pin inengagement in said socket; and resilient means for normally moving saidpin 'into engagement in said socket.

5. A device of the class described adapted for use with a pin,comprising: a frame; adjustable means for mounting said frame on saidpin, said means being adjustable to various sizes; a socket-bearingportion on said frame; a pin longitudinally movable on said frame; meansfor normally moving said pin into engagement in said socket; and meansfor locking said pin in said engagement.

4. A device of the class described, comprising: a frame; means forlocking said frame on a button with which used; a pin slidably mountedon said frame; guide means button with which used and frame thereon; apin longitudinally movable carried by said. pin; a socket-bearing rtionon said frame for the-receptionof e end ofsaid pin; and resilientmeansfornormal; ly moving said. pin into engagement with said socket.

5. A device of the class described, com, prising: a frame; means forvvlocking said frame on a button with which used; a pin slidably mountedon said frame; guide means carried by said pin; a socket-bearing portionon said frame for the reception of the end of said pin; resilient meansfor normally moving said pin into engagement with said socket; and meansfor locking said pin I in said engagement.

6. A device of the class described, comprising: a frame; adjustablegripping members carried by said frame for gripping a button with whichused and securing said frame thereon; a pin longitudinally movable onsaid frame; a socket-bearing portion on said frame for the reception ofthe end of said pin; a guide member carried by said pin and guiding thesame in its movements; a cross bar mounted on said frame; and a springembracing said pin and engaging at one end said guide member, and at theopposite end said cross bar, and adapted normally for moving said pininto engagement in said socket.

7. A device of the class described, c0mprising: a frame; adjustableripping members carried by said frame or gripping a securing said onsaid frame; a socket-bearing portion on said frame for the reception ofthe end of said pin; a guide member carried by said pin and guiding thesame in its movements; a cross bar mounted on said frame; a sprinembracing said pin and engaging at one en said guide member, and at. theopposite end said cross bar, and adapted normally for moving said pininto engagement in said socket; a. head carried by said pin; and meansprojecting inwardly from opposite sides of said frame for engaging saidhead and locking the pin against disengagement from said socket.

8. Ina device of the class described, a

frame; tubular side members on said frame;

a rod projected inwardly of each of said tubular members from each endand overlapping each other; a gripping member carried on the outer endof each of said rods for gripping the periphery ofa button with whichused and clamping said frame thereon.

9. A device of the class described, comprising: a frame; side members onsaid frame; gripping members projecting outwardly from said side membersfor gripping the periphery of a button with which used; a socket-bearingmember connecting said side members; a cross bar connecting said sidemembers adjacent the upper end; a pin lonlU-K ' gaging at one end saidcross bar and at the opposite end said guide member and normal- 1yforcing sald pin-into engagement 1n said socket; inwardly projectingarms at the upper end of said side members; and a head mounted on saidpin engageable between said inwardly projecting arms for locking saidpin against Withdrawal from said socket.

' In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing specification.

CHARLES H. MILLER.

